What killed What killed Lake Erie?Lake Erie?

by Jeffrey Marshby Jeffrey Marsh

Environ 111Environ 111

Winter ‘06Winter ‘06

““Dead”Dead”

In 1969 Lake Erie was proclaimed ‘dead’. Barely any In 1969 Lake Erie was proclaimed ‘dead’. Barely any natural life could survive, Seaweed and plant growth had natural life could survive, Seaweed and plant growth had taken over.taken over.

High growth levels and rates of growth for plants.High growth levels and rates of growth for plants.

““Dead”Dead”

High growth of Plants led to Anoxia (lack High growth of Plants led to Anoxia (lack of O2)of O2)

High P High P Plant Growth Plant Growth Die Die Decompose Decompose ==

AnoxiaAnoxia

““Dead”Dead”

Anoxia caused a lack of Oxygen for Marine Anoxia caused a lack of Oxygen for Marine Organisms to survive- many species of fish diedOrganisms to survive- many species of fish died

How did it get this How did it get this bad you ask?bad you ask?

Pollution of the LakesPollution of the Lakes

Three Main causes lead to the effects on Lake Erie seen in the mid 20th C-

1) Agricultural Runoff/ Raw Sewage(1830-1935)

2) Phosphorous Contamination(1915-1972+)

3) Industrial/ Toxic Wastes (1850-1978+)

Pollution of the LakesPollution of the Lakes

• 95 % water inflow, via Detroit river95 % water inflow, via Detroit river• North of Channel water is pristine, Below Lake North of Channel water is pristine, Below Lake

St. Clare and Detroit Channel – Unsafe levels of St. Clare and Detroit Channel – Unsafe levels of pollutionpollution

• High levels of- Phosphorus, B Coli (from raw sewage High levels of- Phosphorus, B Coli (from raw sewage disposal), Toxic Heavy Metals, Pesticide, and Petroleum disposal), Toxic Heavy Metals, Pesticide, and Petroleum wasteswastes

• This causes us to look at the point of This causes us to look at the point of contamination- the area Between Windsor and contamination- the area Between Windsor and DetroitDetroit

Pollution of the LakesPollution of the Lakes

Water Dilution is Water Dilution is OKOK

“In waterways where some pollution is inevitable and where the ratio of

the volume of water to the volume of sewage is so large that no local nuisance

can result, it is our judgment that the method of sewage disposal by dilution

represents a natural resource and that the utilization of this resource is justifiable for economic reasons,” -1918 International Joint Commission

Water Water DilutionDilution is is OKOK

•Water Pollution was seen as Suspended Pollutants

•Bacterial, Chemical, and Metallic pollutants- Problem causing onlyif physically visible

•Attention to Human Health, lack of environmental concern

Water Water DilutionDilution is is OKOK

• At 1918 levels of B Coli from the IJC-At 1918 levels of B Coli from the IJC-• 1,000 B. Coli in 1 cm3 (safe was considered 1,000 B. Coli in 1 cm3 (safe was considered

20/cm3)20/cm3)

• In 1946 levels at 3 times greaterIn 1946 levels at 3 times greater

Industrial/toxic Waste grows with industryIndustrial/toxic Waste grows with industry

- - In the 1951 IJC study levels of Industrial waste: Avg. two billion US In the 1951 IJC study levels of Industrial waste: Avg. two billion US Gallons/day into Lake Erie Gallons/day into Lake Erie

Industry on the Detroit River:

The VisibleThe Visible

• 1969- Cuyahoga River in Cleveland Lights 1969- Cuyahoga River in Cleveland Lights firefire

• Visibly green, mossy/slimy, and foul Visibly green, mossy/slimy, and foul smelling Lake Erie ‘unpleasant’ smelling Lake Erie ‘unpleasant’

• Public took notice, declared for actionPublic took notice, declared for action

The VisibleThe Visible

The VisibleThe Visible

1972- Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement1972- Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement

-set standards to diminish P levels-set standards to diminish P levels

Acceptable levels of Commercial excretion Acceptable levels of Commercial excretion of P were setof P were set

Home detergents were rid of PhosphorousHome detergents were rid of Phosphorous

The non-VisibleThe non-Visible

1978- The GLWQA was amended to set 1978- The GLWQA was amended to set requirements for Toxic contaminantsrequirements for Toxic contaminants

Currently we are still fighting a Battle for Currently we are still fighting a Battle for Lake Erie, and to Save the rest of our Lake Erie, and to Save the rest of our natural watersnatural waters

Works CitedWorks Cited

Read, Jennifer. ‘Detroit River: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow’. Great Lakes Institute of Read, Jennifer. ‘Detroit River: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow’. Great Lakes Institute of Environmental Research. University Of Windsor. 2001 Windsor, On. Environmental Research. University Of Windsor. 2001 Windsor, On.

International Joint Commission. ‘Pollution of Boundary Waters Reference.’ Ottawa, International Joint Commission. ‘Pollution of Boundary Waters Reference.’ Ottawa, Washington. 1918Washington. 1918

http://www.ijc.org/php/publications/pdf/ID33.pdfhttp://www.ijc.org/php/publications/pdf/ID33.pdf

Online source:Online source:

www.gerl.noaa.govwww.gerl.noaa.gov. .